The more things change, the more they stay the same. Dig deep enough, and you'll find market conditions similar to what we face currently. History may not repeat, but it rhymes. The same goes for traders. We love to think we won't repeat the mistakes of the past, and as individuals we have that opportunity, but as a group, we repeat the same mistakes. Successes, too.
There is comfort in pattern.
When we change our pattern, that's when we can find outsized individual success -- or failure. It's a double-edged sword.
After 13 years, I'm stepping outside that comfort zone, that day-to-day routine. On Monday, for the first time in a long time, I'm going to wake up not thinking about what topics or stocks should be my primary focus for Real Money and Real Money Pro. It's with a heavy heart and big sigh that I announce I've accepted an opportunity that will take me away from my decade-long home here.
I really can't say enough great things about the friends I've made along this journey, many of whom I talk to day-to-day or week-to-week and break bread with any opportunity I'm given. Every time I talk with or read another contributor here, I learn something new. The real unsung heroes, though, are the folks who have edited my daily pieces behind the scenes. I can't tell you how many times they've saved me from looking like an idiot after I left out a word or submitted a piece where my brain worked faster than my fingers. Granted, I made myself look like an idiot plenty of times, despite their help. Oclaro, anyone?
That's the nature of trading, and life, really. We measure risk vs. reward, we make decisions, and we live with the results. Sometimes we succeed and sometimes we fail, but I believe, as traders and investors, we never give up. Learn. Adapt. Push forward. It's easy to gloss over how much we do in trading impacts and mirrors simply living life.
There's no way I can express the gratitude for the opportunity given to me back in 2009 by Jim. Far away though, it's you, the person on the other side of every article who I will miss the most. Through every profit and loss, right and wrong call, and the emotional rollercoaster of it all, just one positive response or thank you or exchange of kind words made every day worth it.
For now, I leave you in great hands and wish you all the best.
